High-precision finite-element analysis of rubber bearing for base-isolation of building structures

Abstract

Seismic response analysis is carried out for a base-isolated frame. The RC-frame members as well as the rubber bearings are discretized into hexahedral finite elements. The material properties of rubber are represented by the Ogden model, and the frame is assumed to remain in elastic range. The seismic response analysis of the frame, which has more than 3 million degrees of freedom is carried out using the E-Simulator, which is under development at E-Defense, Japan, based on a software package called ADVENTURECluster. It is shown that the global and local responses can be simultaneously evaluated through a high-precision finite element analysis.